Traitor's Moon

of Illior.
    â€œIllior!” he murmured aloud, realizing that Elesarit had used theSkalan name for the god rather than Aura. It was like finding the free end in a tangled skein—knots began to unravel as he followed it.
    He who has two hearts is twice as strong, ya’shel khi
.
    Ya’shel khi
. Half-breed soul. The words filled him with an odd mix of dread and elation.
    He returned to the guest house to find the place in an uproar.
    â€œKlia’s awake!” Sergeant Mercalle told him as he hurried in. “She can’t move or speak, but her eyes are open.”
    Seregil didn’t wait to hear more. Bounding upstairs, he found Mydri, Thero, and Nyal bending anxiously over the bed.
    â€œThank Aura!” he exclaimed softly, taking her hand in his. It was bandaged, he noticed, and smelled of herbs and honey. She looked up at him, her eyes aware and full of pain.
    â€œCan you hear me, Klia? Blink if you understand.” Klia’s discolored eyelids slowly raised and lowered. The left moved more than the right, which sagged alarmingly.
    â€œDoes she know all that’s happened, what we’ve learned so far?” he asked Thero. “Can you tell who did this?”
    â€œHer thoughts are still too confused.”
    â€œI’m going to find out,” Seregil promised, stroking her cheek. “I swear I’ll see teth’sag invoked against them in the Iia’sidra.” Klia gave a small, hoarse groan and her eyes closed. He motioned the others into the corridor and closed the door. “Does this mean she’ll live?”
    â€œIt’s a hopeful sign,” Nyal replied, clearly still cautious. “It could be days before she can speak.”
    â€œWhat about her hand?”
    â€œThe area around the wound is spreading,” Mydri said. “You think she could lose it?”
    â€œIf the flesh rots, as Nyal expects, then yes. But we must give the poultice time to work.”
    â€œDo whatever you have to, short of amputation,” Seregil pleaded. “Thero, I need you. Can you come with me to Ulan’s?”
    The wizard looked at Mydri, who nodded. “Yes, Thero, you’ve done all you can for now. Go do what you must.”
    Seregil and Thero arrived at the Iia’sidra to find a solemn gathering awaiting them. It was the right of any khirnari not directly involved to witness the questioning of another, and close to a dozen hadopted to claim the right, among them Khatme, Akhendi, Lhapnos, Goliníl, and Ra’basi, Bry’kha, and several lesser clans. Escorted by a small honor guard of Silmai, they proceeded on foot to Virésse tupa. From the outset, Seregil was careful to be seen deferring to Thero.
    Ulan greeted them with surprising cordiality. “I would offer you a meal, but given the circumstances, the usual gestures seem inappropriate.”
    Prepared in advance by Adzriel, Thero bowed slightly and gave the expected response. “Your offer of hospitality is understood, Khirnari. Aura grant that you be proven innocent.”
    â€œMy house is a large one, as you know,” Ulan said, leading them to the garden where the banquet had been held. “Do you mean to search the entire place?”
    â€œSeregil will assist me as I scry,” Thero replied.
    â€œScry?” said Elos. “How do you mean to do that?”
    â€œI shall employ this.” The wizard produced a square of stained linen. “This is blood from the wound on Klia’s hand,” he explained, not adding that some of Torsin’s was there, as well.
    â€œBlood magic? Necromancy!” Lhaär ä Iriel hissed, making a sign in Thero’s direction.
    The Khatme was not alone in her disapproval, Seregil noted, watching the others uneasily.
    â€œBrythir í Nien, how can you allow such an abomination?” Moriel ä Moriel exclaimed.
    â€œThe use of blood is only incidental. It’s not necromancy of any sort,” Thero assured them. “If Klia was stuck with a sharp object, as we suspect, then some of her blood and the poison remains on it, as it does on this cloth. It’s nothing but a finding spell, like calling to like.”
    â€œThe ’faie have similar magicks,” Brythir said, leaning on Adzriel’s arm. “Unless my fellow khirnari intend to demand a vote, I say you may do so, Thero í Procepios.”
    â€œI pray you, grant him leave to proceed,” Ulan added. “I have nothing